11:1Now Jephthahthe Gileaditewasa bravewarrior. His motherwas a prostitute, but Gileadwas his father.3311:2Gilead’swifealso gave34him sons. When his wife’ssonsgrewup, they made Jephthahleave and saidto him, “You are notgoing to inheritany of our father’swealth,35 becauseyouare anotherwoman’sson.”11:3So Jephthahleft36his half-brothers37and livedin the landof Tob. LawlessmenjoinedJephthah’sgang and traveledwithhim.38

Jephthah Gives a History Lesson

11:12Jephthahsentmessengerstothe Ammoniteking, saying, “Whyhave54 you come againstme toattackmy land?”11:13The AmmonitekingsaidtoJephthah’smessengers, “BecauseIsraelstole55my landwhen they56 came upfrom Egypt– from the ArnonRiverin the south to the JabbokRiver in the north, and as farwest as the Jordan.57Nowreturnit58 peaceably!”

11:14Jephthahsentmessengersback tothe Ammoniteking11:15and saidto him, “This is whatJephthahsays, ‘Israeldid notsteal59the landof Moaband the landof the Ammonites.11:16Whenthey left60Egypt, Israeltraveled61through the desertas faras the RedSeaand then cameto Kadesh.11:17Israelsentmessengerstothe kingof Edom, saying, “Pleaseallow us62 to pass throughyour land.” Butthe kingof Edomrejected the request.63Israel sentthe samerequest tothe kingof Moab, but he was unwillingto cooperate.64 So Israelstayedat Kadesh.11:18Then Israel65 went throughthe desertand bypassedthe landof Edomand the landof Moab. They traveledeastof the landof Moaband campedon the other sideof the ArnonRiver;66 they did notgothrough Moabiteterritory(the Arnonwas Moab’sborder).11:19IsraelsentmessengerstoKingSihon, the Amoritekingwho ruled in Heshbon, and saidto him, “Pleaseallow us to passthrough your landto our land.”6711:20But Sihondid nottrustIsraelto pass throughhis territory. He68assembledhis wholearmy,69campedin Jahaz, and foughtwithIsrael.11:21The LordGodof Israelhanded Sihonand his wholearmyoverto Israeland they defeatedthem. Israeltook70allthe landof the Amoriteswho livedin that land.11:22They tookallthe Amoriteterritoryfrom the ArnonRiveron the south to the JabbokRiver on the north, fromthe desertin the east tothe Jordanin the west.7111:23Since72the LordGodof Israelhas drivenout73 the Amoritesbeforehis peopleIsrael, do youthink you can just takeit from them?7411:24You havethe right to takewhat Chemoshyour godgives you, but we will takethe land of allwhomthe Lordour Godhas drivenout beforeus.7511:25Are you reallybetterthanBalaksonof Zippor, kingof Moab? Did he dare to quarrelwithIsrael? Did he dare to fightwith them?7611:26Israelhas beenlivingin Heshbonand its nearby towns, in Aroerand its nearby towns, and in allthe citiesalongthe Arnonfor threehundredyears! Whydid you notreclaim themduring that time?11:27Ihave notdone you wrong,77but youare doingwrong78by attackingme. Maythe Lord, the Judge, judgethis daybetweenthe Israelitesand the Ammonites!’”11:28But the Ammonitekingdisregarded79the messagesentby Jephthah.80

A Foolish Vow Spells Death for a Daughter

11:29The Lord’sspiritempowered81Jephthah. He passed throughGileadand Manassehand went82to Mizpahin Gilead. From there he approachedthe Ammonites.8311:30Jephthahmadea vowto the Lord, saying, “Ifyou really do handthe Ammonitesoverto me,11:31thenwhoever is the first to come through84the doorsof my houseto meetme when I returnsafelyfrom fighting the Ammonites– he85 will belongto the Lordand86 I will offer him upas a burnt sacrifice.”11:32Jephthahapproached87the Ammonitesto fightwith them, and the Lordhandedthem over to him.11:33He defeatedthem from Aroerall the way toMinnith– twentycitiesin all, even as faras AbelKeramim! He wiped them out!88 The Israeliteshumiliatedthe Ammonites.89

11:34When Jephthahcamehometo Mizpah, there washis daughterhurrying out90to meethim, dancingto the rhythmof tambourines.91She was his only child; exceptfor her he had nosonordaughter.11:35Whenhe sawher, he rippedhis clothesand said, “Ohno! My daughter! You have completely ruinedme!92 Youhave brought me disaster!93 Imade an oathtothe Lord, and I cannotbreak it.”9411:36She saidto him, “My father, since95 you made an oathtothe Lord, doto me asyou promised.96Afterall, the Lordvindicatedyou before97 your enemies, the Ammonites.”11:37She then saidtoher father, “Please grantme thisonewish.98For twomonthsallowme to walkthroughthe hillswith my friendsand mournmy virginity.”9911:38He said, “You maygo.” He permittedher to leave100 for twomonths. She wentwith her friendsand mournedher virginityas she walked through the hills.10111:39Aftertwomonthsshe returnedtoher father, and he didto her as he hadvowed. Shedied a virgin.102Her tragic death gave rise to a customin Israel.10311:40Every year104Israelitewomen commemorate105the daughterof Jephthahthe Gileaditefor fourdays.106

12:2Jephthahsaidto them, “My peopleand Iwere entangledin controversywith the Ammonites.111I asked foryour help, but you did notdeliverme from their power.11212:3When I sawthatyou were notgoing to help,113I riskedmy life114 and advancedagainst115 the Ammonites, and the Lordhandedthem over to me. Whyhave you come up116tofightwith me today?”12:4Jephthahassembledallthe menof Gileadand they foughtwithEphraim. The menof GileaddefeatedEphraim, becausethe Ephraimites insulted them, saying,117 “YouGileaditesare refugeesin Ephraim, living withinEphraim’sand Manasseh’sterritory.”11812:5The Gileaditescapturedthe fordsof the Jordan River119opposite Ephraim.120Whenever an Ephraimitefugitive121said, “Let me cross over,” the menof Gileadasked122 him, “Are youan Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,”12:6then they saidto him, “Say‘Shibboleth!’”123 If he said, “Sibboleth” (and could notpronouncethe word124 correctly), they grabbedhim and executedhimright there at the fordsof the Jordan. On thatdayforty-twothousandEphraimitesfell dead.12:7Jephthahled125Israelfor sixyears; then he126 diedand wasburiedin his cityin Gilead.127

Order Restored

12:8Afterhim Ibzanof Bethlehem128led129Israel.12:9He had thirtysons. He arranged for thirtyof his daughtersto be married outsidehis extendedfamily,130 and he arranged for thirtyyoung womento be broughtfromoutsideas wives for his sons.131Ibzan132 led133Israelfor sevenyears;12:10then he134diedand was buriedin Bethlehem.